Cimafunk has taken Cuba by storm, including a nomination in Cubadisco 2018 for their album Terapia. I have seen them live twice in Havana (their leader was also a guest on my radio program From the Isle of Music recently), and their live show is more electric than you would guess from the promo video above.   However, Me Voy is their biggest hit in Cuba, so there it is.   Here's a taste of them live to underscore my point:

Unless you suffer from a Funk allergy (it would be fun to see them share the stage with George Clinton sometime), you will want to see this band, which is now touring the US and already played SXSW.
Here are some upcoming dates (the list is probably not complete):
March 28:  Tropicalia Lounge, Washington, DC
March 29:  The Galleries at Moore, Philadelphia, PA
March 30:  Global Cuba Fest, Miami Beach, FL (with Daymé Arocena, also worth seeing)
April 2:  Martyrs, Chicago, IL 
April 3:  Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL 
April 6:  Tipitina's, New Orleans,  LA 
April 13: Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA 
April 15: AS/COA, New York, NY 


Chicago fans of Chuchito Valdés will be pleased to learn that he is returning to the Jazz Showcase with his trio Thursday, March 21-Sunday, March 24.    He tells me that he has a new album coming, more about this soon.   In trio, his style has both mellowed and deepened with age.  Highly recommended.

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

Author, producer, director : Nathanaël Mergui,
Co-author: Patricia La Peruana (Patricia Ayala)
Editorial advisor: AxEl CubAdicto

ENGLISH: The new Van Van documentary  "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado"  has been uploaded to Los Van Van's YouTube page.  It begins with a series of beautiful clips of Havana and Juan Formell, set to Formell singing "La Fantasía", which had tears in my eyes in just the first 30 seconds. 

There have been a number of Van Van documentaries but  "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado" picks up with the band during the studio sessions for the CD "Legado". As the title indicates, the documentary focuses on an interview with Samuel Formell and his experiences growing up surrounded by Los Van Van, his journey from musician to musical director, and how his father prepared him for taking on the role of director of Los Van Van. It includes interviews with Issac Delgado, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso, and Pedrito Calvo as well as classic and more recent Van Van concert video and moments in the EGREM studios during the recording of the album "Legado".

I was left with a huge sense of nostalgia seeing the Van Vaneros who have left the band or have passed away as well as the overwhelming affirmation that Van Van continues to be Van Van— Cosa Gorda.

It is currently only available in Spanish.

ESPAÑOL: El nuevo documental de Van Van "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado" se ha subido a la página de YouTube de Los Van Van. Comienza con una serie de hermosos video clips de La Habana y Juan Formell, en los que Formell canta "La Fantasía", que me sacó las lágrimas ya en los primeros 30 segundos.

Han salido una serie de documentales de Van Van, pero "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado" retoma con la banda durante las sesiones de grabación para el CD "Legado". Como lo indica el título, el documental se enfoca en una entrevista con Samuel Formell y sus experiencias al crecer rodeado de Los Van Van, su viaje de músico a director musical y cómo su padre lo preparó para asumir el papel de director de Los Van Van. . Incluye entrevistas con Issac Delgado, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso y Pedrito Calvo, así como video clásico y más reciente de conciertos de Van Van y momentos en los estudios de EGREM durante la grabación del álbum "Legado".

Me quedé con una enorme sensación de nostalgia al ver a Van Vaneros que se han bajado de la banda o han fallecido, así como a la abrumadora afirmación de que Van Van sigue siendo Van Van, Cosa Gorda.

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continue reading Timbera Mayor

Daymé will be at The Art Boutiki in San José on Tuesday the 19th and at The New Parish in Oakland the following night, with DJ Leydis. Click here for Tom's gallery of their 2016 appearance.

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continue reading La Última

Alfredo and Pedrito are out on tour - amazingly generating the energy of a full band with just a duo. They'll be at Santa Cruz's Kuumbwa Jazz on Thursday, March 14.

Here's the full tour - and the album.

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continue reading La Última